In October, my posting, “The 5 Things in Business that College Can’t Teach” reviewed 5 important qualities and abilities that are essential for entrepreneurs. These qualities are of such an utmost importance, that I felt it would be beneficial to take a closer look at each.
1. The ability to Adjust (You Better Adjust…If You Want To Make Money) 2. The ability to Persevere (Don’t be Fooled: Entrepreneurship isn’t Instant Gratification) 3. The ability to have Blinders 4. The desire to keep Learning 5. The ability to stay HungryPart 3: Turn the “Hate” into Inspiration
There are moments in life that are unforgettable. Moments that will provide inspiration in times of struggle. Many times, these moments become building blocks in not only our career, but our lives. This is one of mine:
“You could always get a job with a corporation. If in a few years you still want to start a business, you could start it then.”
I was at a New Year’s Eve party. Shouldn’t I have been enjoying the time with family and friends? Instead of enjoying myself, I was shocked and furious inside. Was it a suggestion to get a job in hopes of learning how to build a company? No, it was clearly a statement of doubt. Of course, I responded with the classic, respectful, politically correct, but bull**** answer. I was thinking, “I’m not stupid. You’re basically saying you don’t think I’ll be successful.” To this day, that statement provides inspiration when I want to take time off.
Entrepreneurs are a very small percentage of the population. Under30CEO’s are even a smaller percentage. As a group of people who think differently, it’s important we realize that most people will not see the opportunities that we do. Can you blame them? It’s much easier to work for someone else, get a steady paycheck, and have less responsibility. This lifestyle has become a normal part of our society.
Don’t be surprised to hear doubt from your friends and family. They might not approve of the risk in starting a business. Understand that they will not have an entrepreneur’s mindset. This is why the ability to have blinders is vital.
Merriam-Webster.com refers to blinder as, “either of two flaps on a horse’s bridle to keep it from seeing objects at its sides.”
Are you going to be able to handle the doubters and stay on track? It’s easy to accomplish things when everyone is rooting for you. What is going to happen when you find out that your peers are not as thrilled about the business as you are? Here is a great way to approach it: If you weren’t going after something great, you wouldn’t have any haters. Embrace the hate and turn it into the reason to wake up every morning.
There will be haters and there will be a lot of them. I want to make something clear though. Not all criticism is hate. For example, if Donald Trump tells you that your company’s business model is flawed, that’s not hate. That’s constructive criticism that can be used to build a better company. If a member of the Under30CEO community makes a suggestion for your business, that’s not hate. Constructive criticism is from people who have your best interest in mind. They criticize because they want you to succeed. They ask the tough questions in order to save you from making mistakes that they might have made.
In contrast, hate is from people who do not want you to succeed. Their criticism comes from jealously, fear of change, and the fear of looking worse when someone else succeeds. Believe it or not, there are a lot of people who just like to be negative.
Surround yourself with the people that will not only push you, but stay positive. Erase all the negativity. Spend time with the people that support your dreams. If finding new friends is necessary, find them.
Don’t forget to keep the blinders on and focus on your vision. Don’t let anything or anyone prevent you from taking a further step towards your goals. In my initial post, I mentioned there would be a bunch of million dollar companies built in the next 5 years. After reading that again, I’m going a step-further. There will be several multi-million and billion dollar companies built. You might as well own one of them!
What are the moments that continue to inspire you?
Michael Fear is the Founder & CEO of Get Better Today & getbettertoday.com. His mission is to help people understand that getting better everyday is not an option, but a necessity. I’d love to hear the moments that continue to inspire you in the comment section or on Twitter: @MichaelEFear & @GetBetterTday.
